CERT to hold training classes in March

Communities in Kansas and in other states across the United States have been heavily impacted by tornadoes the past couple of years.

Comment

By Staff Report

Butler County Times Gazette

By Staff Report

Posted Feb. 22, 2013 at 4:00 PM

By Staff Report

Posted Feb. 22, 2013 at 4:00 PM

El Dorado, Kan.

Communities in Kansas and in other states across the United States have been heavily impacted by tornadoes the past couple of years.

If that happened in your community, today, tomorrow, next week, etc., do you know what to do to help you, your family, your neighbor, community, etc? Do you want to learn how to be prepared and respond? Butler County CERT class attendees do.

CERT, which stands for Community Emergency Response Team, is a national program that provides grant funding to local emergency managers to equip and train citizens to prepare and respond to disasters and emergencies in their neighborhood.

CERT is about readiness; people helping people, rescuer safety and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens will be initially on their own and their actions can make a difference.

CERT class attendees are trained to assist their families and neighbors in the minutes or hours that it may take for emergency responders to arrive on scene. If they choose to become a part of the team, they learn how to supplement our emergency responders.

Participants receive 20 hours of free training in light search and rescue, hazardous materials, terrorism, critical incident stress management, basic first aid, how to use a fire extinguisher, incident command, disaster preparedness and triage. The final part of the training involves participation in a mock disaster with real “victims”. Class members get the chance to utilize the skills they have been taught over the course of the class.

The next CERT class will be held at the at new Butler Community College training facility/El Dorado Fire Station on West Sixth Avenue in El Dorado.

The dates and times are as follows:

March 11 – 6–10 p.m.

March 12 – 6–10 p.m.

March 14 – 6–10 p.m.

March 15 – 6–10 p.m.

March 16 – 8 a.m.–noon

To sign up for the next CERT class and get prepared, visit www.butlercoema.org or call the CERT office at (316) 733-9796.